Mosque

"Masjed" and "Musjid" redirect here. For the Iranian villages, seeMasjed, Iran (disambiguation).For the 19th-century British racehorse, seeMusjid (horse).

Amosque(/mɒsk/MOSK), also called amasjid(/ˈmæsdʒɪd,ˈmʌs-/MASS-jid,MUSS-),is aplace of worshipforMuslims.The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place whereIslamic prayersare performed, such as an outdoor courtyard.

Originally, mosques were simple places of prayer for theearly Muslims,and may have been open spaces rather than elaborate buildings.In the first stage ofIslamic architecture(650–750 CE), early mosques comprised open and closed covered spaces enclosed by walls, often withminarets,from which theIslamic call to prayerwas issued on a daily basis.It is typical of mosque buildings to have a special ornamental niche (amihrab) set into the wall in the direction of the city ofMecca(theqibla), which Muslims must face during prayer,as well as a facility for ritual cleansing (wudu).The pulpit (minbar), from which public sermons (khutbah) are delivered on the event ofFriday prayer,was, in earlier times, characteristic of the central city mosque, but has since become common in smaller mosques.To varying degrees, mosque buildings are designed so that there aresegregated spaces for men and women.This basic pattern of organization has assumed different forms depending on the region, period, andIslamic denomination.

In addition to being places of worship inIslam,mosques also serve as locations forfuneral servicesandfuneral prayers,marriages (nikah), vigils duringRamadan,business agreements, collection and distribution ofalms,and homeless shelters.To this end, mosques have historically been multi-purpose buildings functioning as community centres, courts of law, andreligious schools.In modern times, they have also preserved their role as places of religious instruction and debate.Special importance is accorded to, in descending order of importance:al-Masjid al-Haramin the city of Mecca, whereHajjandUmrahare performed; theProphet's Mosquein the city ofMedina,whereMuhammadis buried; andal-Aqsa Mosquein the city ofJerusalem,where Muslims believe thatMuhammad ascended to heaven to meet Godaround 621 CE.There's a growing realization among scholars that the present-day perception of mosques doesn't fully align with their original concept. Early Islamic texts and practices highlight mosques as vibrant centers integral to Muslim communities, supporting religious, social, economic, and political affairs.

During and after theearly Muslim conquests,mosques were established outside ofArabiain the hundreds; manysynagogues,churches,andtempleswereconverted into mosquesand thus influenced Islamic architectural styles over the centuries.While most pre-modern mosques were funded by charitable endowments (waqf),the modern-day trend of government regulation of large mosques has been countered by the rise of privately funded mosques, many of which serve as bases for different streams ofIslamic revivalismand social activism.

Etymology

The word 'mosque' entered theEnglish languagefrom theFrenchwordmosquée,probably derived fromItalianmoschea(a variant of Italianmoscheta), from eitherMiddle Armenianմզկիթ(mzkit‘),MedievalGreek:μασγίδιον(masgídion), or Spanishmezquita,fromمسجد(meaning "site of prostration (in prayer)" and hence a place of worship), either fromNabataeanmasg^ĕdhā́or from ArabicArabic:سَجَدَ,romanized:sajada(meaning "toprostrate"), probably ultimately fromNabataean Arabicmasg^ĕdhā́orAramaics^ĕghēdh.

History

Origins

See also:List of the oldest mosques

Islam was established in Arabia during the lifetime ofMuhammadin the 7th century CE.Thefirst mosquein history could be either the sanctuary built around theKa'bahinMecca,known today asAl-Masjid al-Haram('The Sacred Mosque'), or theQuba MosqueinMedina,the first structure built by Muhammad upon hisemigration from Meccain 622CE,both located in the Hejaz region in present-day Saudi Arabia.

Other scholars reference Islamic traditionand passages of the Quran,according to which Islam as a religion precedes Muhammad, and includes previous prophets such as Abraham.In Islamic tradition,Abrahamis credited with having built theKa'bahin Mecca, and consequently its sanctuary,Al-Masjid al-Haram,which is seen by Muslims as the first mosque that existed.AhadithinSahih al-Bukharistates that the sanctuary of theKa'bahwas the first mosque on Earth, with the second mosque beingAl-AqsainJerusalem,which is also associated with Abraham.Since as early as 638 CE, the Sacred Mosque of Mecca has been expanded on several occasions to accommodate the increasing number of Muslims who either live in the area or make the annual pilgrimage known asHajjto the city.

Either way, after the Quba Mosque,Muhammad went on to establish another mosque in Medina,which is now known asAl-Masjid an-Nabawi('The Prophet's Mosque'). Built on the site of his home, Muhammad participated in the construction of the mosque himself and helped pioneer the concept of the mosque as the focal point of the Islamic city.The Prophet's Mosque is considered by some scholars ofIslamic architectureto be the first mosque.The mosque had a roof supported by columns made of palm tree trunksand it included a large courtyard, a motif common among mosques built since then.Rebuilt and expanded over time,it soon became a largerhypostylestructure.It probably served as a model for the construction of early mosques elsewhere.It introduced some of the features still common in today's mosques, including the niche at the front of the prayer space known as themihrab(first added in theUmayyad period)and the tiered pulpit called theminbar.

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  Aerial view of theSacred Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Ḥarām)ofMeccainSaudi Arabia,the largest mosque andholiest site in Islam,with theKaabain the center (2010 photo)
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  TheProphet's Mosque (al-Masjid an-Nabawi)inMedina,Islam's second holiest site
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  Masjid al-Qiblatayn(Mosque of the twoQiblahs) in Medina
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  TheAl-Aqsa MosqueinJerusalem,Islam's third holiest site

Diffusion and evolution

TheUmayyad MosqueinDamascus,built during theUmayyad Caliphate

TheUmayyad Caliphatewas particularly instrumental in spreading Islam and establishing mosques within theLevant,as the Umayyads constructed among the most revered mosques in the region —Al-Aqsa MosqueandDome of the RockinJerusalem,and theUmayyad MosqueinDamascus.The designs of the Dome of the Rock and the Umayyad Mosque were influenced byByzantine architecture,a trend that continued much later with the rise of theOttoman Empire.

TheGreat Mosque of Kairouanin present-dayTunisiawas the first mosque built in theMaghreb(northwest Africa), with its present form (dating from the ninth century) serving as a model for other Islamic places of worship in the Maghreb. It was the first in the region to incorporate a squareminaret,which was characteristic of later Maghrebi mosques, and includesnavesakin to abasilica.Those features can also be found inAndalusimosques, including theGreat Mosque of Cordoba,as they tended to reflect the architecture of theMoorsinstead of theirVisigothpredecessors.Still, some elements ofVisigothic architecture,likehorseshoe arches,were infused into the mosque architecture of Spain and the Maghreb.

Faisal MosqueinIslamabadis the largest mosque in Pakistan and in South Asia with a capacity of 300,000

Muslim empires were instrumental in the evolution and spread of mosques. Although mosques were first established in India during the seventh century, they were not commonplace acrossthe subcontinentuntil the arrival of theMughalsin the 16th and 17th centuries. Reflecting theirTimuridorigins,Mughal-stylemosques includedonion domes,pointed arches,and elaborate circular minarets, features common in thePersianandCentral Asian styles.TheJama MasjidinDelhiand theBadshahi MosqueinLahore,built in a similar manner in the mid-17th century,remain two of the largest mosques on the Indian subcontinent.

The first mosque inEast Asiawas established in the eighth century inXi'an.TheGreat Mosque of Xi'an,whose current building dates from the 18th century, does not replicate the features often associated with mosques elsewhere.Minarets were initially prohibited by the state.Following traditionalChinese architecture,the Great Mosque of Xi'an, like many other mosques in eastern China, resembles apagoda,with a green roof instead of the yellow roof common on imperial structures in China. Mosques in western China were more likely to incorporate elements, like domes and minarets, traditionally seen in mosques elsewhere.

Kampung Hulu Mosque,the oldest mosque inMalaysia

A similar integration of foreign and local influences could be seen on theIndonesianislands ofSumatraandJava,where mosques, including theDemak Great Mosque,were first established in the 15th century.Early Javanese mosques took design cues fromHindu,Buddhist,and Chinese architectural influences, with tall timber, multi-level roofs similar to the pagodas ofBalinese Hindu temples;the ubiquitous Islamic dome did not appear in Indonesia until the 19th century.In turn, the Javanese style influenced the styles of mosques in Indonesia'sAustronesianneighbors—Malaysia,Brunei,and the Philippines.

Several of the early mosques in the Ottoman Empire were originally churches or cathedrals from theByzantine Empire,with theHagia Sophia(one of those converted cathedrals) informing the architecture of mosques from after theOttoman conquest of Constantinople.The Ottomans developedtheir own architectural stylecharacterized by large central domes (sometimes surrounded by multiple smaller domes), pencil-shaped minarets, and open façades.

Namazgah Mosquein 2018. It was the largest mosque in theBalkansat the time of completion.

Mosques from the Ottoman period are still scattered acrossEastern Europe,but the most rapid growth in the number of mosques in Europe has occurred within the past century as more Muslims have migrated to the continent. Many major European cities are home to mosques, like theGrand Mosque of Paris,that incorporate domes, minarets, and other features often found with mosques in Muslim-majority countries.The first mosque in North America was founded byAlbanian Americansin 1915, but the continent's oldest surviving mosque, theMother Mosque of America,was built in 1934.As in Europe, the number of American mosques has rapidly increased in recent decades as Muslim immigrants, particularly fromSouth Asia,have come in the United States. Greater than forty percent of mosques in the United States were constructed after 2000.

Inter-religious conversion

See also:Conversion of non-Muslim places of worship into mosques,List of former mosques in Spain,andList of former mosques in Portugal

TheHagia SophiainIstanbul,Turkey, was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453

According to earlyMuslim historians,towns that surrendered without resistance and made treaties with the Muslims were allowed to retain their churches and the towns captured by Muslims had many of their churches converted to mosques.One of the earliest examples of these kinds of conversions was inDamascus,Syria, where in 705UmayyadcaliphAl-Walid Ibought the church ofSt. Johnfrom theChristiansand had it rebuilt as a mosque in exchange for building a number of new churches for the Christians in Damascus. Overall,Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan(Al-Waleed's father) is said to have transformed 10 churches in Damascus into mosques.

The process of turning churches into mosques were especially intensive in the villages where most of the inhabitantsconvertedto Islam.TheAbbasidcaliphal-Ma'munturned many churches into mosques.Ottoman Turksconverted nearly all churches, monasteries, and chapels inConstantinople,including the famousHagia Sophia,into mosques immediately aftercapturing the city in 1453.In some instances mosques have been established on the places ofJewishor Christian sanctuaries associated withBiblicalpersonalities who were also recognized by Islam.

Mosques have also been converted for use by other religions, notably in southern Spain, following the conquest of the Moors in 1492.The most prominent of them is theGreat Mosque of Cordoba,itself constructed on the site of a church demolished during the period of Muslim rule. Outside of theIberian Peninsula,such instances also occurred in southeastern Europe once regions were no longer under Muslim rule.

Religious functions

See also:Congregational mosque

Prayers

There are two holidays (Eids) in theIslamic calendar:ʿĪd al-FiṭrandʿĪd al-Aḍḥā,during which there are special prayers held at mosques in the morning. TheseEid prayersare supposed to be offered in large groups, and so, in the absence of an outdoorEidgah,a large mosque will normally host them for their congregants as well as the congregants of smaller local mosques. Some mosques will even rentconvention centersor other large public buildings to hold the large number of Muslims who attend. Mosques, especially those in countries where Muslims are the majority, will also host Eid prayers outside in courtyards,town squaresor on the outskirts of town in anEidgah.

Ramadan

IftaratTaipei Grand Mosque,TaiwanduringRamadan

Islam's holiest month,Ramaḍān,is observed through many events. As Muslims mustfastduring the day during Ramadan, mosques will hostIfṭārdinners after sunset and the fourth required prayer of the day, that isMaghrib.Food is provided, at least in part, by members of the community, thereby creating dailypotluckdinners. Because of the community contribution necessary to serveiftardinners, mosques with smaller congregations may not be able to host theiftardinners daily. Some mosques will also holdSuḥūrmeals beforedawnto congregants attending the first required prayer of the day,Fajr.As with iftar dinners, congregants usually provide the food for suhoor, although able mosques may provide food instead. Mosques will often invite poorer members of the Muslim community to share in beginning and breaking the fasts, as providingcharityduring Ramadan is regarded in Islam as especially honorable.

Following the last obligatory daily prayer (ʿIshāʾ) special, optionalTarāwīḥprayers are offered in larger mosques. During each night of prayers, which can last for up to two hours each night, usually one member of the community who has memorized the entire Quran (aHafiz) will recite a segment of the book.Sometimes, several such people (not necessarily of the local community) take turns to do this. During the last ten days of Ramadan, larger mosques will host all-night programs to observeLaylat al-Qadr,the night Muslims believe that Muhammad first received Quranic revelations.On that night, betweensunsetandsunrise,mosques employ speakers to educate congregants in attendance about Islam. Mosques or the community usually provide meals periodically throughout the night

Vault ceiling of theNasir al-Mulk MosqueinShiraz,Iran

During the last ten days ofRamadan,larger mosques within the Muslim community will hostIʿtikāf,a practice in which at least one Muslim man from the community must participate. Muslims performing itikaf are required to stay within the mosque for ten consecutive days, often in worship or learning about Islam. As a result, the rest of the Muslim community is responsible for providing the participants with food, drinks, and whatever else they need during their stay.

Charity

Adina Mosque,once the largest mosque in South Asia, inPandua,the first capital of theBengal Sultanate.

The third of theFive Pillars of Islamstates that Muslims are required to give approximately one-fortieth of their wealth to charity asZakat.Since mosques form the center of Muslim communities, they are where Muslims go to both givezakatand, if necessary, collect it. Before the holiday ofEid ul-Fitr,mosques also collect a specialzakatthat is supposed to assist in helping poor Muslims attend the prayers and celebrations associated with the holiday.

Frequency of attendance

The frequency by which Muslims attend mosque services vary greatly around the world. In some countries, weekly attendance at religious services is common among Muslims while in others, attendance is rare. A study of American Muslims did not find differences in mosque attendance by gender or age.

Percentage of Muslims who attend mosque at least once a week, 2009–2012 Countries Percentage Ghana   99% Liberia   94% Ethiopia   93% Uganda   93% Guinea-Bissau   92% Mozambique   92% Kenya   91% Niger   88% Nigeria   87% Democratic Republic of the Congo   85% Cameroon   84% Djibouti   84% Tanzania   82% Chad   81% Mali   79% Indonesia   72% Jordan   65% Senegal   65% Afghanistan   61% Egypt   61% Pakistan   59% Malaysia   57% United Kingdom   56% Palestine   55% Iraq   54% Spain   54% Bangladesh   53% Thailand   52% Yemen   51% Israel   49% Italy   49% Canada   48% Algeria   47% Tunisia   47% United States of America   47% Turkey   44% Australia   40% Morocco   40% Germany   35% Lebanon   35% Libya   35% Bosnia and Herzegovina   30% France   30% Tajikistan   30% Belgium   28% Iran   27% Saudi Arabia   27% Denmark   25% Netherlands   24% Kyrgyzstan   23% Kosovo   22% Bulgaria   21% Russian Federation   19% Georgia   14% Kazakhstan   10% Uzbekistan   9% Albania   5% Azerbaijan   1%

Architecture

Further information:Islamic architecture

Styles

A 14th century mosque ofMir Sayyid Ali HamadaniinSrinagar,Jammu and Kashmir,India.

Arab-planorhypostylemosques are the earliest type of mosques, pioneered under the Umayyad Dynasty. These mosques have square or rectangular plans with an enclosed courtyard (sahn) and covered prayer hall. Historically, in the warm Middle Eastern andMediterranean climates,the courtyard served to accommodate the large number of worshippers during Friday prayers. Most early hypostyle mosques had flat roofs on prayer halls, which required the use of numerouscolumnsandsupports.One of the most notable hypostyle mosques is the Great Mosque of Cordoba in Spain, the building being supported by over 850 columns.Frequently, hypostyle mosques have outerarcades(riwaq) so that visitors can enjoy the shade. Arab-plan mosques were constructed mostly under the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties. The simplicity of the Arab plan limited the opportunities for further development, the mosques consequently losing popularity.

Huseina Čauša džamija (a.k.a. Džindijska), 17th century traditional wooden mosque inTuzla,Bosnia and Herzegovina

The first departure within mosque design started in Persia (Iran). ThePersianshad inherited a richarchitectural legacyfrom the earlier Persian dynasties, and they began incorporating elements from earlierParthianandSassaniddesigns into their mosques, influenced by buildings such as thePalace of Ardashirand theSarvestan Palace.Thus,Islamic architecturewitnessed the introduction of such structures as domes and large, arched entrances, referred to asiwans.DuringSeljuq rule,asIslamic mysticismwas on the rise, thefour-iwanarrangement took form. The four-iwan format, finalized by the Seljuqs, and later inherited by theSafavids,firmly established the courtyard façade of such mosques, with the towering gateways at every side, as more important than the actual buildings themselves.They typically took the form of a square-shaped central courtyard with large entrances at each side, giving the impression of gateways to the spiritual world.The Persians also introducedPersian gardensinto mosque designs. Soon, a distinctlyPersian styleof mosques started appearing that would significantly influence the designs of laterTimurid,and alsoMughal,mosque designs.

Great Mosque of Xi'anin China built in 742

The Ottomans introduced central dome mosques in the 15th century. These mosques have a large dome centered over the prayer hall. In addition to having a large central dome, a common feature is smaller domes that exist off-center over the prayer hall or throughout the rest of the mosque, where prayer is not performed.This style was heavily influenced by Byzantine architecture with its use of large central domes.

Islam forbidsfigurative art,on the grounds that the artist must not imitate God's creation. Mosques are, therefore, decorated withabstract patternsand beautiful inscriptions. Decoration is often concentrated around doorways and themiḥrāb.Tiles are used widely in mosques. They lend themselves to pattern-making, can be made with beautiful subtle colors, and can create a cool atmosphere, an advantage in the hot Arab countries. Quotations from theQuranoften adorn mosque interiors. These texts are meant to inspire people by their beauty, while also reminding them of the words of Allah.

Prayer hall

The prayer hall, also known as themuṣallá(Arabic:مُصَلَّى), rarely has furniture; chairs and pews are generally absent from the prayer hall so as to allow as many worshipers as possible to line the room.Some mosques haveIslamic calligraphyand Quranic verses on the walls to create a more religious atmosphere for worshippers.

Often, a limited part of the prayer hall is sanctified formally as amasjidin thesharīʿahsense (although the termmasjidis also used for the larger mosque complex as well). Once designated, there are onerous limitations on the use of this formally designatedmasjid,and it may not be used for any purpose other than worship; restrictions that do not necessarily apply to the rest of the prayer area, and to the rest of the mosque complex (although such uses may be restricted by the conditions of thewaqfthat owns the mosque).

In many mosques, especially the early congregational mosques, the prayer hall is built in thehypostyleform (the roof held up by a multitude of columns).One of the finest examples of the hypostyle-plan mosques is theGreat Mosque of KairouaninTunisia.

Usually opposite the entrance to the prayer hall is theqiblawall (the direction ofMecca,and thus the direction towards whichMuslimsshould face for prayer), the visually emphasized area inside the prayer hall. Theqiblawall should, in a properly oriented mosque, be set perpendicular to a line leading toMecca,where theKaabais located.Congregants pray in rows parallel to the qiblah wall and thus arrange themselves so they face Mecca. In theqiblawall, usually at its center, is themiḥrāb,a niche or depression indicating the direction of Mecca. Usually themihrabis not occupied by furniture either. A raisedminbar(pulpit) is located to the right side of themihrabfor akhaṭīb(preacher), or some other speaker, to offer akhuṭbah(sermon) during the ritual Friday prayers.

Themihrabserves as the location where theimamormullahleads the five daily prayers on a regular basis.Left to themihrab,in the front left corner of the mosque, sometimes there is akursu(Turkish:kürsü,Bosnian:ćurs/ћурс), a small elevated plateau (rarely with a chair or other type of seat) used for less formal preaching and speeches.

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  Main prayer hall with hypostyle in theGreat Mosque of Kairouan,Tunisia
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  Ottoman-styleprayer hall of theYıldız Hamidiye MosqueinIstanbul,Turkey
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  Wooden prayer hall of theJärvenpää Mosque,a historic mosque used by theFinnish Tatarcommunity, inJärvenpää,Finland
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  Postmodernprayer hall of theUlu MosqueinUtrecht,Netherlands
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  Chinese Islamic-styleprayer hall of theSongjiang MosqueinShanghai,China
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  New Formalism-styleprayer hall of theIstiqlal MosqueinJakarta,Indonesia

Women's prayer hall

Stairs toward themaqfil

View of themaqfil

Women who pray in mosques are separated from men.Their part for prayer is calledmaqfil(Bosnian:makfil/макфил). It is located above the main prayer hall, elevated in the background as stairs-separated gallery or plateau (surface-shortened to the back relative to the bottom main part). It usually has a perforated fence at the front, through which theimamormullahand the other male worshippers in the main hall can be partially seen.

Mihrab

Mihrab inAl-Masjid an-Nabawi,Medina,Saudi Arabia

Amiḥrāb,also spelled asmehrabis a semicircularnichein the wall of a mosque that faces theqiblah(i.e. the "front" of the mosque); the imam stands in this niche and leads prayer. Given that the imam typically stands alone in the frontmost row, this niche's practical effect is to save unused space.Theminbaris apulpitfrom which the Friday sermon is delivered. While theminbarof Muhammad was a simple chair, later it became larger and attracted artistic attention. Some remained made of wood, albeit exquisitely carved, while others were made of marble and featuredfriezes.

Minarets

Main article:Minaret

One of the oldest standing minarets in the world at the Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia

A common feature in mosques is the minaret, the tall, slender tower that usually is situated at one of the corners of the mosque structure. The top of the minaret is always the highest point in mosques that have one, and often the highest point in the immediate area.

Two minarets made of clay with twenty layers of horizontal protruding wooden sticks from theGreat Mosque of Bobo-DioulassoinBurkina Faso

The origin of the minaret and its initial functions are not clearly known and have long been a topic of scholarly discussion.The earliest mosques lacked minarets, and the call to prayer was often performed from smaller structures or elevated platforms.The early Muslim community of Medina gave the call to prayer from the doorway or the roof of the house ofMuhammad,which doubled as a place for prayer.The first confirmed minarets in the form of towers date from the early 9th century under Abbasid rule and they did not become a standard feature of mosques until the 11th century.These first minaret towers were placed in the middle of the wall opposite the qibla wall.Among them, the minaret of the Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia, dating from 836, is well-preserved and is one of the oldest surviving minarets in the world today.

Before the five required daily prayers, aMu’adhdhin(Arabic:مُـؤَذِّن) calls the worshippers to prayer from the minaret. In many countries like Singapore where Muslims are not the majority, mosques are prohibited from loudly broadcasting theAdhān(Arabic:أَذَان,Call to Prayer), although it is supposed to be said loudly to the surrounding community. Theadhanis required before every prayer. Nearly every mosque assigns amuezzinfor each prayer to say theadhanas it is a recommended practice orSunnah(Arabic:سُـنَّـة) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. At mosques that do not have minarets, theadhanis called instead from inside the mosque or somewhere else on the ground.TheIqâmah(Arabic:إِقَـامَـة), which is similar to theadhanand proclaimed right before the commencement of prayers, is usually not proclaimed from the minaret even if a mosque has one.

Domes

The201 Dome MosqueinTangail District,Bangladesh.

The domes, often placed directly above the main prayer hall, may signify the vaults of theheavenand sky.As time progressed, domes grew, from occupying a small part of the roof near the mihrab to encompassing the whole roof above the prayer hall. Although domes normally took on the shape of a hemisphere, the Mughals in India popularizedonion-shaped domesin South Asia which has gone on to become characteristic of the Arabic architectural style of dome.Some mosques have multiple, often smaller, domes in addition to the main large dome that resides at the center. The domes of Turkish-style mosques are influenced by Byzantine architecture, particularly from the 15th century onwards as the Balkans and Constantinople became part of the Ottoman Empire.

Ablution facilities

Thewudu( "ablution" ) area, where Muslims wash their hands, forearm, face and feet before they pray. Example from theBadshahi Mosque, Lahore,Pakistan

Asritual purificationprecedes all prayers, mosques often haveablutionfountains or other facilities for washing in their entryways or courtyards. Worshippers at much smaller mosques often have to use restrooms to perform their ablutions. In traditional mosques, this function is often elaborated into a freestanding building in the center of a courtyard.This desire for cleanliness extends to the prayer halls where shoes are disallowed to be worn anywhere other than the cloakroom. Thus, foyers with shelves to put shoes and racks to hold coats are commonplace among mosques.

Contemporary features

Modern mosques have a variety of amenities available to their congregants. As mosques are supposed to appeal to the community, they may also have additional facilities, fromhealth clinicsandclubs(gyms) tolibrariestogymnasiums,to serve the community.

Symbols

Certain symbols are represented in a mosque's architecture to allude to different aspects of the Islamic religion. One of these feature symbols is the spiral. The "cosmic spiral" found in designs and on minarets is a references to heaven as it has "no beginning and no end".Mosques also often have floral patterns or images of fruit and vegetables. These are allusions to the paradise after death.

Rules and etiquette

Prayer leading

Appointment of a prayer leader is considered desirable, but not always obligatory.The permanent prayer leader (imam) must be a free honest individual and is authoritative in religious matters.In mosques constructed and maintained by the government, the prayer leader is appointed by the ruler;in private mosques, appointment is made by members of the congregation throughmajority voting.According to theHanafischoolof Islamic jurisprudence, the individual who built the mosque has a stronger claim to the title of imam, but this view is not shared by the other schools.

Leadership at prayer falls into three categories, depending on the type of prayer: five daily prayers, Friday prayer, or optional prayers.According to the Hanafi andMalikischool of Islamic jurisprudence, appointment of a prayer leader for Friday service is mandatory because otherwise the prayer is invalid. TheShafi'iandHanbalischools argue that the appointment is not necessary and the prayer is valid as long as it is performed in a congregation. A slave may lead a Friday prayer, but Muslim authorities disagree over whether the job can be done by a minor.An imam appointed to lead Friday prayers may also lead at the five daily prayers;Muslim scholarsagree to the leader appointed for five daily services may lead the Friday service as well.

All Muslim authorities hold the consensus opinion that only men may lead prayer for men.Nevertheless, women prayer leaders are allowed to lead prayer in front of all-female congregations.

Cleanliness

See also:Ritual purity in Islam

Storage for shoes

All mosques have rules regarding cleanliness, as it is an essential part of the worshippers' experience. Muslims before prayer are required to cleanse themselves in an ablution process known aswudu.Shoes must not be worn inside the carpeted prayer hall. Some mosques will also extend that rule to include other parts of the facility even if those other locations are not devoted to prayer. Congregants and visitors to mosques are supposed to be clean themselves. It is also undesirable to come to the mosque after eating something that smells, such as garlic.

Dress

Islam requires that its adherents wearclothesthat portraymodesty.Men are supposed to come to the mosque wearing loose and clean clothes that do not reveal the shape of the body. Likewise, it is recommended that women at a mosque wear loose clothing that covers to the wrists and ankles, and cover their heads with aḤijāb(Arabic:حِجاب), or other covering. Many Muslims, regardless of their ethnic background, wear Middle Eastern clothing associated with Arabic Islam to special occasions and prayers at mosques.

Concentration

As mosques are places of worship, those within the mosque are required to remain respectful to those in prayer. Loud talking within the mosque, as well as discussion of topics deemed disrespectful, is forbidden in areas where people are praying. In addition, it is disrespectful to walk in front of or otherwise disturb Muslims in prayer.The walls within the mosque have few items, except for possibly Islamic calligraphy, so Muslims in prayer are not distracted.Muslims are also discouraged from wearing clothing with distractingimagesandsymbolsso as not to divert the attention of those standing behind them during prayer. In many mosques, even the carpeted prayer area has no designs, its plainness helping worshippers to focus.

Gender separation

See also:Gender segregation and Islam,Women's mosques,andIslamic Bill of Rights for Women in the Mosque

A women-only mosque inByblos,Lebanon

There is nothing written in the Qur'an about the issue of space in mosques and gender separation. Traditional rules have segregated women and men. By traditional rules, women are most often told to occupy the rows behind the men. In part, this was a practical matter as the traditional posture for prayer – kneeling on the floor, head to the ground – made mixed-gender prayer uncomfortably revealing for many women and distracting for some men. Traditionalists try to argue that Muhammad preferred women to pray at home rather than at a mosque, and they cite aḥadīthin which Muhammad supposedly said: "The best mosques for women are the inner parts of their houses," although women were active participants in the mosque started by Muhammad. Muhammad told Muslims not to forbid women from entering mosques. They are allowed to go in.The second Sunni caliph 'Umarat one time prohibited women from attending mosques especially at night because he feared they might be sexually harassed or assaulted by men, so he required them to pray at home.Sometimes a special part of the mosque was railed off for women; for example, the governor of Mecca in 870 had ropes tied between the columns to make a separate place for women.

Many mosques today will put the women behind a barrier or partition or in another room. Mosques inSouthandSoutheast Asiaput men and women in separate rooms, as the divisions were built into them centuries ago. In nearly two-thirds of American mosques, women pray behind partitions or in separate areas, not in the main prayer hall; some mosques do not admit women at all due to the lack of space and the fact that some prayers, such as the Friday Jumuʻah, are mandatory for men but optional for women.Although there are sections exclusively for women and children, the Grand Mosque in Mecca is desegregated.

Non-Muslim inclusion

PresidentGeorge W. Bushinside theIslamic CenterofWashington D.C.,US

Under most interpretations ofsharia,non-Muslims are permitted to enter mosques provided that they respect the place and the people inside it.A dissenting opinion and minority view is presented by followers of theMalikischool of Islamic jurisprudence, who argue that non-Muslims may not be allowed into mosques under any circumstances.

The Quran addresses the subject of non-Muslims, and particularlypolytheists,in mosques in two verses in its ninth chapter,Sura At-Tawba.The seventeenth verse of the chapter prohibits those whojoin gods with Allah—polytheists—from maintaining mosques:

It is not for the polytheists to maintain the mosques of Allah while they openly profess disbelief. Their deeds are void, and they will be in the Fire forever.

— Surah At-Tawbah9:17

The twenty-eighth verse of the same chapter is more specific as it only considers polytheists in theMasjid al-Haramin Mecca:

O believers! Indeed, the polytheists are ˹spiritually˺ impure, so they should not approach the Sacred Mosque after this year. If you fear poverty, Allah will enrich you out of His bounty, if He wills. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

— Surah At-Tawbah9:28

According toAhmad ibn Hanbal,these verses were followed to the letter at the times of Muhammad, whenJewsand Christians, consideredmonotheists,were still allowed toAl-Masjid Al-Haram.The Umayyad caliphUmar IIlater forbade non-Muslims from entering mosques, and his ruling remains in practice in present-day Saudi Arabia.Today, the decision on whether non-Muslims should be allowed to enter mosques varies. With few exceptions, mosques in the Arabian Peninsula as well as Morocco do not allow entry to non-Muslims. For example, the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is one of only two mosques in Morocco currently open to non-Muslims.

There are many other mosques in the West and Islamic world which non-Muslims are welcome to enter. Most mosques in the United States, for example, report receiving non-Muslim visitors every month. Many mosques throughout the United States welcome non-Muslims as a sign of openness to the rest of the community as well as to encourage conversions to Islam.

In modern-day Saudi Arabia, the Grand Mosque and all of Mecca are open only to Muslims. Likewise, Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi and the city ofMedinathat surrounds it are also off-limits to those who do not practice Islam.For mosques in other areas, it has most commonly been taken that non-Muslims may only enter mosques if granted permission to do so by Muslims, and if they have a legitimate reason. All entrants regardless ofreligious affiliationare expected to respect the rules anddecorumfor mosques.

In modern Turkey, non-Muslim tourists are allowed to enter any mosque, but there are some strict rules. Visiting a mosque is allowed only between prayers; visitors are required to wear long trousers and not to wear shoes, women must cover their heads; visitors are not allowed to interrupt praying Muslims, especially by taking photos of them; no loud talk is allowed; and no references to other religions are allowed (no crosses on necklaces, no cross gestures, etc.) Similar rules apply to mosques in Malaysia, where larger mosques that are also tourist attractions (such as theMasjid Negara) provide robes and headscarves for visitors who are deemed inappropriately attired.

In certain times and places, non-Muslims were expected to behave a certain way in the vicinity of a mosque: in some Moroccan cities, Jews were required to remove their shoes when passing by a mosque;in 18th-century Egypt, Jews and Christians had to dismount before several mosques in veneration of their sanctity.

The association of the mosque with education remained one of its main characteristics throughout history,and the school became an indispensable appendage to the mosque. From the earliest days of Islam, the mosque was the center of the Muslim community, a place for prayer, meditation, religious instruction, political discussion, and a school. Anywhere Islam took hold, mosques were established, and basic religious and educational instruction began.

Role in contemporary society

See also:Political aspects of Islam

TheEast London Mosquewas one of the first in Britain to be allowed to useloudspeakersto broadcast theadhan

Political mobilization

The late 20th century saw an increase in the number of mosques used for political purposes. While some governments in the Muslim world have attempted to limit the content of Friday sermons to strictly religious topics, there are also independent preachers who deliverkhutbasthat address social and political issues, often in emotionally charged terms. Common themes include social inequalities, necessity ofjihadin the face of injustice, and the universal struggle between good and evil.In Islamic countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, political subjects are preached by imams at Friday congregations on a regular basis.Mosques often serve as meeting points for political opposition in times of crisis.

Countries with a minority Muslim population are more likely than Muslim-majority countries of theGreater Middle Eastto use mosques as a way to promote civic participation.Studies of US Muslims have consistently shown a positive correlation between mosque attendance and political involvement. Some of the research connects civic engagement specifically with mosque attendance for social and religious activities other than prayer.American mosques hostvoter registrationand civic participation drives that promote involving Muslims, who are often first- or second-generation immigrants, in the political process. As a result of these efforts as well as attempts at mosques to keep Muslims informed about the issues facing theMuslim community,regular mosque attendants are more likely to participate inprotests,signpetitions,and otherwise be involved in politics.Research on Muslim civic engagement in other Western countries "is less conclusive but seems to indicate similar trends".

Role in violent conflicts

See also:IslamophobiaandIsraeli–Palestinian conflict

Mosque inGaza,destroyed during theGaza Warin 2009

As they are considered important to the Muslim community, mosques, like other places of worship, can be at the heart of social conflicts. TheBabri Mosquein India was the subject of such a conflict up until the early 1990s when it was demolished. Before a mutual solution could be devised, the mosque was destroyed on December 6, 1992, as the mosque was built byBaburallegedly on the site of a previousHindu templemarking the birthplace ofRama.The controversy surrounded the mosque was directly linked torioting in Bombay(present-dayMumbai) as well asbombings in 1993that killed 257 people.

Bombings in February 2006 andJune 2007seriously damaged Iraq'sal-Askari Mosqueand exacerbated existing tensions. Other mosque bombings in Iraq, both before and after the February 2006 bombing, have been part of the conflict between the country's groups of Muslims. In June 2005, asuicide bombingkilled at least 19 people at an AfghanShiamosque near Jade Maivand.In April 2006,two explosionsoccurred at India's Jama Masjid.Following the al-Askari Mosque bombing in Iraq, imams and other Islamic leaders used mosques andFriday prayersas vehicles to call for calm and peace in the midst of widespread violence.

A study 2005 indicated that while support for suicide bombings is not correlated with personal devotion to Islam among Palestinian Muslims, it is correlated with mosque attendance because "participating in communal religious rituals of any kind likely encourages support for self-sacrificing behaviors that are done for the collective good."

Following theSeptember 11 attacks,several American mosques were targeted in attacks ranging from simplevandalismtoarson.Furthermore, theJewish Defense Leaguewas suspected of plotting to bomb the King Fahd Mosque inCulver City, California.Similar attacks occurred throughout the United Kingdom following the7 July 2005 London bombings.Outside the Western world, in June 2001, theHassan Bek Mosquewas the target of vandalism and attacks by hundreds of Israelis after a suicide bomber killed 19 people in a night club in Tel Aviv.Although mosquegoing is highly encouraged for men, it is permitted to stay at home when one feels at risk from Islamophobic persecution.

Saudi influence

Although the Saudi involvement in Sunni mosques around the world can be traced back to the 1960s, it was not until later in the 20th century that the government of Saudi Arabia became a large influence in foreign Sunni mosques.Beginning in the 1980s, the Saudi Arabian government began to finance the construction of Sunni mosques in countries around the world. An estimatedUS$45 billion has been spent by the Saudi Arabian government financing mosques and Sunni Islamic schools in foreign countries.Ain al-Yaqeen,a Saudi newspaper, reported in 2002 that Saudi funds may have contributed to building as many as 1,500 mosques and 2,000 other Islamic centers.

Saudi citizens have also contributed significantly to mosques in theIslamic world,especially in countries where they see Muslims as poor and oppressed. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, in 1992, mosques in war-torn Afghanistan saw many contributions from Saudi citizens.The King Fahd Mosque in Culver City, California and the Islamic Cultural Center of Italy inRomerepresent two of Saudi Arabia's largest investments in foreign mosques as former Saudi kingFahd bin Abdul Aziz al-Saudcontributed US$8 millionand US$50 millionto the two mosques, respectively.

Political controversy

Historic woodenKruszyniany Mosque,used by thePolish Tatarcommunity, and targeted by an Islamophobic attack in 2014

In the western world, and in the United States in particular, anti-Muslim sentiment and targeted domestic policy has created challenges for mosques and those looking to build them. There has been government and police surveillance of mosques in the USand local attempts to ban mosques and block constructions,despite data showing that in fact, most Americans oppose banning the building of mosques (79%) and the surveillance of U.S. mosques (63%) as shown in a 2018 study done by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding.

Since 2017,Chinese authoritieshave destroyed or damaged two-thirds of themosquesin China'sXinjiangprovince.Ningxiaofficials were notified on 3 August 2018 that theWeizhou Grand Mosquewould be forcibly demolished because it had not received the proper permits before construction.Officials in the town said that the mosque had not been given proper building permits, because it is built in aMiddle Easternstyle and includes numerousdomesandminarets.The residents of Weizhou alarmed each other throughsocial mediaand finally stopped the mosque destruction by public demonstrations.

See also

• Dambana
• Holiest sites in Islam
• Jama'at Khana
• Lists of mosques

References

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Further reading

• Yahya Abdullahi; Mohamed Rashid Bin Embi (2013)."Evolution of Islamic geometric patterns".Frontiers of Architectural Research.2(2): 243–251.doi:10.1016/j.foar.2013.03.002.
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• Grabar, Oleg(1969)."The Architecture of the Middle Eastern City from Past to Present: The Case of the Mosque".InLapidus, Ira M.(ed.).Middle Eastern Cities.University of California Press. pp. 26–46.doi:10.1525/9780520323803-005.ISBN9780520323803.
• Hawting, Gerald R.(2000).The First Dynasty of Islam: The Umayyard Caliphate AD 661–750.Routledge.ISBN978-0-415-24072-7.
• Kahera, Akel (2008).Deconstructing the American Mosque: Space, Gender and Aesthetics.Austin TX: University of Texas Press.ISBN978-0-292-74344-1.
• Khan, Muhammad Muhsin;Al-Hilali Khan; Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din (1999).Noble Quran(1st ed.). Dar-us-Salam Publications.ISBN978-9960-740-79-9.
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• Mubarkpuri, Saifur-Rahman (2002).The Sealed Nectar: Biography of the Prophet.Dar-us-Salam Publications.ISBN978-1-59144-071-0.
• Najeebabadi, Akbar Shah (2001).History of Islam.Dar-us-Salam Publications.ISBN978-1-59144-034-5.
• Nigosian, S. A. (2004).Islam: Its History, Teaching, and Practices(New ed.). Indiana University Press.ISBN978-0-253-21627-4.
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• Stachowski, Marek (2017). Janyšková I.; Karlíková H.; Boček V. (eds.).Slawische Bezeichnungen für Moschee unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Polnischen, Schlesischen, Tschechischen und Slowakischen.pp. 361–369.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-03-02.Retrieved2018-06-19:Etymological research into Czech (=Studia Etymologica Brunensia 22), Brno.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: postscript (link)

External links

• Images of mosques from throughout the worldArchived2017-10-18 at theWayback Machine,from the Aga Khan Documentation Center atMIT
• Devostock Public domain imagesArchived2020-10-03 at theWayback Machine,Images of mosques from around the world